Laurent Blanc held talks with AS Monaco yesterday
As initially reported by Foot Mercato and since confirmed by sources to Get French Football News, out-of-work manager Laurent Blanc was in the Principality yesterday to hold discussions with AS Monaco about possibly replacing under-fire boss Leonardo Jardim.
Jardim is beginning to lose the dressing room in more dramatic fashion than ever before, with players fed up of the Portuguese tactician playing favourites with Kamil Glik and Jemerson despite their obviously highly disappointing form. Romain Molina reports that Cesc Fabregas is leading the internal revolt against Jardim and has recently been joined in this effort by Wissam Ben Yedder.
Jardim has also brutalised the confidence of teenage full-back Arthur Zagre who signed from PSG in summer, refusing to play him and repeatedly telling anyone who listens that he does not think that the French has the acceptable standard required to perform in Ligue 1 and how this is proof that the board should have entirely listened to his summer window demands, like Islam Slimani.
Inside the club, players and other coaches are bemused by Jardim’s inexplicable decision to give Henry Onyekuru the cold shoulder, with the Portuguese coach having basically told the Nigerian that he would be better off training with the reserves. Several long-standing figures within the club’s board hierarchy are campaigning for Jardim’s departure.
As a result, Monaco have begun speaking with possible replacements. Laurent Blanc met with key ASM figures yesterday in the Principality, after recently narrowly missing out on the Lyon post.
Monaco have also contacted Rennes coach Julien Stéphan and the currently jobless ex-Valencia boss Marcelino.